New this week: 'The Handmaid’s Tale' and 'Goodnight Mommy'
This week’s new entertainment releases include albums from Little Big Town and Marcus Mumford, “The Handmaid’s Tale” returns with high stakes for the future of Gilead, and twin brothers go to their mother’s house for a stay but find something is off about her in the film “Goodnight Mommy.”.
Anne Heche remains on life support for donor evaluation
Anne Heche remains on life support and under evaluation for organ donation after a car crash that led to her brain death, a representative for the actor said Friday. Under current California law, death can be determined by the loss of all brain function and in accordance with accepted medical standards. While Heche is legally dead, she's on life support and “her heart is still beating" so that the nonprofit organization OneLegacy can determine if she can be a donor, spokeswoman Holly Baird said in a statement.
news.yahoo.comEx-’Cheer’ star Jerry Harris gets 12 years for seeking photos, sex
A federal judge has sentenced Jerry Harris, a former star of the Netflix documentary series “Cheer,” to 12 years in prison for coercing teenage boys to send him obscene photos and videos of themselves and soliciting sex from minors at cheerleading competitions.
An old clip of Ellen DeGeneres pressuring Taylor Swift into talking about her dating life resurfaced after a TikToker said Swift 'deserves an apology'
In the segment, from an episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2012, DeGeneres tries to get Swift to talk about the men she has dated.
news.yahoo.comEllen DeGeneres says toxic workplace scandal was 'orchestrated' and 'I still don't understand it'
Ellen DeGeneres is speaking out about her show's toxic workplace scandal after revealing plans to sign off in 2022. DeGeneres spoke with NBC's Today after announcing Wednesday her daytime talk show will end after its upcoming season, a decision she says was not due to reports of a toxic work environment there. The TV host said, however, that "I really did think about not coming back" after the "devastating" allegations suggesting she is not a "kind person." Asked if she felt like she was "being canceled," DeGeneres said, "I really didn't understand it. I still don't understand it. It was too orchestrated. It was too coordinated." She added, "It was really interesting because I'm a woman, and it did feel very misogynistic." DeGeneres in a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter shot down "stupid" claims about her, such as that people "couldn't look me in the eye," and she said that the fact that "everything I stand for was being attacked ... destroyed me." Numerous reports last year alleged employees of The Ellen DeGeneres Show have experienced "racism, fear, and intimidation," and three top producers were ousted following an investigation. In her interview with Today, DeGeneres contended that she "never saw anything that would even point to" there being a toxic work environment on her show, arguing she couldn't have known about it "when there's 255 employees here ... unless I literally stayed here until the last person goes home at night." She added, though, "I have to be the one to stand up and say, 'This can't be tolerated.'" “I’m proud of the kind of show we do.” Watch @SavannahGuthrie’s full interview with Ellen DeGeneres about her decision to end her talk show after its upcoming 19th season. DeGeneres says allegations of a toxic work environment on the show are not the reason for her decision. pic.twitter.com/nVbDlAuHpv — TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 13, 2021 More stories from theweek.comThe real reason Liz Cheney lost her jobDeadlocked FEC reportedly declines to investigate Donald Trump Jr.'s Trump Tower meeting with RussiansGeorge P. Bush applauds Liz Cheney's ouster, claims she doesn't 'stand up for conservative Republican ideology'
news.yahoo.comBitcoin slips below $50k after Musk says Tesla won't take it
The price of bitcoin fell below $50,000 Thursday morning after Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted a day earlier that the electric car maker would stop accepting the digital currency as payment for its vehicles. Musk on Wednesday cited environmental concerns for the change in policy. “We are concerned about rapid increasing use of fossil fuels for Bitcoin mining and transactions, especially coal, which has the worst emissions of any fuel,” Musk said on Twitter.
news.yahoo.comIsrael military draws up plan for ground invasion of Gaza
The Israeli military was drawing up plans to send troops into Gaza on Thursday as its military continued to exchange fire with Hamas fighters through the night, while in Israeli cities a fresh wave of riots led to 400 arrests. The Israel Defence forces said it had deployed two infantry units and one armoured unit to the border with Gaza, and that a ground operations plan would be submitted to military chiefs later today, ahead of approval by the Israeli government. Despite diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis, which US President Joe Biden said he hoped would end "sooner than later", hundreds of rockets flew across the Gaza Strip overnight. James Cleverly, the UK Middle East minister, described the level of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel as "unprecedented," and called on all sides to "step back from the brink."
news.yahoo.comCan Joe Biden afford to stay out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
President Joe Biden entered the White House with a “stand back” approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many of his predecessors made big promises on solving the longest and most intractable conflict, but invariably came up short. Much of the president’s first few months has been spent tackling the US’s more pressing domestic problems. Inheriting a once-in-a-generation global pandemic, a tanking economy and catastrophic unemployment, has left him time for little else. Meanwhile, Mr Biden, much like Donald Trump before him, has tried desperately to extricate America from Middle East wars - withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and taking a backseat in Syria. The inertia was not so much of an issue when the region was quiet. But with the violence in Israel and the occupied Gaza Strip threatening to escalate into a major all-out conflict, can Mr Biden afford to keep looking away?
news.yahoo.comMurder charge: Gunman shot woman in back of head in downtown Minneapolis as she tried to flee
A Brooklyn Center man was charged with murder on accusations that he followed a woman into a parking garage in downtown Minneapolis over the weekend and shot her in the back of the head. Otis T. Givens, 45, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Ariana M. Bradley, who had no permanent address. Givens was arrested Monday and ...
news.yahoo.comUS budget deficit hits record $1.9 trillion so far this year
The U.S. budget deficit surged to a record of $1.9 trillion for the first seven months of this budget year, bloated by the billions of dollars being spent in coronavirus relief packages. The shortfall so far this year is 30.3% higher than the $1.48 trillion deficit run up over the same period a year ago, the Treasury Department said Wednesday in its monthly budget report.
news.yahoo.comH-E-B donates $1 million to Texas food banks to help those in need after winter storm
HOUSTON – H-E-B is going above and beyond to make sure Texans have food on their table by donating $1 million to food banks across Texas. According to a news release, working directly with food banks affiliated with Feeding Texas, H-E-B’s donation will support 18 food banks throughout the state. So far, the Texas grocery chain has donated 23 truckloads of food and $100,000 in Meal Simple meals to food banks, per the release. H-E-B also responded to the ongoing water crisis in Texas by partnering with Zen Water and Florida-based Publix, who each donated 10 truckloads of water to Texas food banks this week. All donations will support Texas food banks with Feeding Texas.
H-E-B donating $1 million to Texas food banks after winter storm
H-E-B is supporting the Texas food banks residents are leaning on in the wake of recent winter weather. The Texas grocery chain announced a $1 million donation on Wednesday to support 18 food banks in Texas as the state recovers from a week-long winter and utility crisis which left residents cold, hungry and in the dark. HIDALGO: Lina Hidalgo makes 'Time' 100 list for 2021In addition to the monetary donations, H-E-B also donated $100,000 worth of Meal Simple meals to food banks. Funds generated will go directly to food banks affiliated with Feeding Texas. H-E-B's Hunger Relief Program, started in 1982, donated 41 million pounds of food to food banks throughout 2020.
chron.comMattress Mack to discuss winter storm recovery efforts on ‘Ellen’
HOUSTON – Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres sat down Wednesday to meet with Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale virtually about his efforts to give back to Houstonians during last week’s Texas winter storm, including opening both Gallery Furniture locations as warming shelters. We have a saying here at Gallery Furniture that we have a responsibility for the well-being of the community,” McIngvale said. At the end of his interview, DeGeneres wanted to help his GoFundMe page hit his goal of $50,000 to help winter storm victims. Over 700 Houstonians called Gallery Furniture a place of shelter and over 4,000 meals were delivered thanks to Mattress Mack, DeGeneres said during her show. This wasn’t the first time the Gallery Furniture owner opened his stores to those in need.
Megan Thee Stallion teams up with Ellen DeGeneres to surprise frontline nurse in Houston with $50K
FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2019, file photo, Megan Thee Stallion attends Variety's Hitmakers Brunch in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)HOUSTON – Megan Thee Stallion teamed up with Ellen DeGeneres to surprise one of her deserving fans who works as a travel nurse on the show. Last July, Jamelmenique Hoy temporarily relocated to Houston to help treat coronavirus patients as the city continued to experience an outbreak of new cases. Megan Thee Stallion, who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Texas Southern University, connected with her fan’s story and wanted to help. With the help of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and Shutterfly, Megan surprised the Hoy with $50,000 to help pay off her student loans.
Golden Globes to honor legendary TV producer Norman Lear
The Golden Globes will bestow the Carol Burnett Award to Lear during the 78th annual awards ceremony next month. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)LOS ANGELES – Norman Lear made his mark as a television producer who strived to explore race relation issues through his famed sitcoms “All in the Family” and “Good Times.” And now, the Golden Globes will honor Lear with its TV special achievement trophy. Nominations for the upcoming Golden Globes are scheduled to be announced Feb. 3. As a social activist, Lear founded advocacy organization People for the American Way. He also founded several other non-profits to promote thoughtful citizenship, including the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication.
"I HAVE COVID!!!!": Shemar Moore, "S.W.A.T." star, says he has tested positive for the coronavirus
Shemar Moore, known for playing the lead character Hondo in CBS' "S.W.A.T." drama, revealed in an Instagram post late Wednesday that he "just found out moments ago" he tested positive for the coronavirus. He ended his Instagram post by writing, "I BELIEVE in the sun shining through the rain!!! He then added the hashtag #wearamaskShemar Moore seen playing Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson in the CBS primetime drama "S.W.A.T." Earlier this month, Ellen DeGeneres said she had tested positive for COVID-19, writing, "Hi everyone, I want to let you all know that I tested positive for COVID-19," adding, "Fortunately, I'm feeling fine right now."
cbsnews.comOp-ed: At some point, sky-high valuations will matter just like they did for the dot-com busts
The Fearless Girl sculpture wearing a mask stands next to a large Christmas Tree lit up displayed in front of the New York Stock Exchange on December 06, 2020 in New York City. Alexi Rosenfeld | Getty ImagesIt's not often that celebrity home-buying sprees give me insights into the stock market. However, when I read last Friday about Ellen DeGeneres' purchase of a $49 million house in Montecito, California, I realized that this behavior helped me understand the current exuberant state of the stock market. It was the example of how investors buy what they want, when they want it, at whatever price is necessary, that struck me as the defining character of this current stock market. I have written about the surge in retail trading, a major force behind this phenomenon, especially among people for whom stock trading seems to serve as a surrogate for unavailable leisure activities.
cnbc.com‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris indicted on new child sex charges
CHICAGO – “Cheer” star Jerry Harris, already facing federal child pornography charges, has been indicted on new charges that allege he solicited sex from minors at cheerleading competitions and convinced teenage boys to send him obscene photographs and videos of themselves. The new seven-count indictment that was made public on Friday was not unexpected. Harris, 21, of Naperville, has been held in a federal detention facility without bond since he was arrested on child pornography charges in September, and a judge has subsequently suggested that Harris would pose a public danger if released from custody. Harris' attorneys have not yet spoken about the new charges but an arraignment was scheduled for Friday afternoon. Harris, who was born in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale and raised in nearby Bolingbrook, was the breakout star of the Emmy-winning docuseries that follows the cheerleading team from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.
Ellen DeGeneres has COVID-19: These are the celebrities she reportedly saw prior to positive test
HOUSTON – Television host Ellen DeGeneres said on social media Thursday that she has tested positive for COVID-19. DeGeneres said she is “feeling fine” and that she has notified those who have been in close contact with her. TMZ.com noted that she had Justin Bieber, Bryan Cranston, Diane Keaton, Alison Brie and Lil Nas X in her studio in the last week. She added in her social media post on Twitter that she would see everyone after the holidays.
DeGeneres: Positive test for coronavirus but 'feeling fine'
LOS ANGELES – Ellen DeGeneres says she has tested positive for COVID-19 but is “feeling fine right now.”Production on her daytime talk show has been paused until January, producer Telepictures said in a statement that followed DeGeneres' Thursday announcement. Please stay healthy and safe,” DeGeneres said in her post. Reruns of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” were to air starting Thursday. When the coronavirus outbreak hit in March, DeGeneres shifted to taping without a studio audience, as did other talk shows. When the series began its 18th season in September, her show added fans virtually into the seats, then said it would allow a few dozen people into the studio.
How two blind brothers became Two Blind Brothers for a cause
Brothers, Bryan, left, and Bradford Manning, laugh as they tell the origin story of their clothing company, Two Blind Brothers, in their New York City loft on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. That’s the question posed by two New York brothers who’ve lost much of their vision to a rare degenerative eye disorder and have dedicated their lives — and livelihoods — to raising money for a cure. Bradford Manning, 35, and his 30-year-old brother, Bryan, are the founders of the clothing brand Two Blind Brothers. With advice from friends in the fashion industry, two blind brothers became Two Blind Brothers. Brad was diagnosed at 7 after their mother, a nurse, found a doctor who determined that Stargardt disease was the cause of his declining vision.
Judge Judy to move her gavel to streaming service IMDb TV
FILE - Judge Judy Sheindlin arrives at the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif., on May 5, 2019. Sheindlin, whose long-running syndicated courtroom show Judge Judy will end production in 2021, will be dispensing justice on an exclusive show in the U.S. for IMDb TV. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Everyone's going to streaming, including Judge Judy. The broadcast television staple's next act will be with IMDb TV, Amazon's free digital service. When Sheindlin announced her eventual departure from “Judge Judy” on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, she also said another show was ahead.
'Masked Singer' begets 'Masked Dancer,' set for December
LOS ANGELES – Fox's hit series “The Masked Singer” is getting company with “The Masked Dancer,” a chance for celebrity contestants to show off their moves in disguise. Actor and comedian Craig Robinson ("The Office," “Hot Tub Time Machine”) will host the series, with Ken Jeong, Paula Abdul, Brian Austin Green and Ashley Tisdale as panelists. Filming has begun on the series, which will debut in December, Fox said. “The Masked Singer," based on a South Korean TV show and an instant hit when it debuted in January 2019, has featured T-Pain, Wayne Brady and Kandi Burruss among its winning contestants. Jeong is among the show's panelists.
Ellen DeGeneres makes on-air apology, vows a 'new chapter'
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” started its 18th season in Los Angeles with the host on stage for the first time in months after taping from DeGeneres’s home during quarantine. There wasn’t a studio audience but a virtual one, with faces beamed in on monitors put in the audience seats. “We have had a lot of conversations over the last few weeks about the show, our workplace, and what we want for the future," she said. In her monologue, DeGeneres dryly joked that her summer was “super-terrific.”The host also addressed the allegations that the off-camera DeGeneres is very different than her sunny on-air persona. I take that very seriously, and I want to say I am so sorry to the people that were affected,” DeGeneres said in her monologue.
'Cheer' star Jerry Harris arrested on child porn charges
Harris did not respond for comment from USA Today, and attempts by The Associated Press to find a phone number for Harris have not been successful. Besides accusing Harris of sexual misconduct, the lawsuit alleges that cheer organizations failed to protect the boys. A Varsity official in Aug. 1 letters to police in Florida and Texas said the organization had learned of “inappropriate sexual conduct” allegations against Harris, USA TODAY reported. Cheer Athletics owner Angela Rogers told the newspaper that Harris hasn’t been affiliated with the gym since March 1. Rogers told the newspaper that she learned of the allegations against him in mid-May and reported them to police.
Lawsuit: ‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris sexually solicited minors
The lawsuit filed Monday in Texas against Harris and three cheer organizations says the boys' mother reported Harris to the FBI last month. The boys’ mother told USA TODAY that both boys have spoken to the FBI. Harris, who has not been criminally charged, did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY. In addition to accusing Harris of sexual misconduct, the lawsuit accuses cheer organizations of failing to protect the boys. The lawsuit says the boys’ mother reported Harris to USASF, Varsity and Cheer Athletics.
DeGeneres vows candor as clouded talk show charts its return
LOS ANGELES Ellen DeGeneres says she'll be ready to talk when her daytime show returns this month after a staff shake-up prompted by allegations of a toxic workplace. And, yes, were gonna talk about it, DeGeneres said in a statement announcing the show's Sept. 21 start of its 18th season. Tiffany Haddish will join DeGeneres for the kick-off episode, with The Ellen DeGeneres Show to be taped at Warner Bros. minus an in-studio audience, which is commonplace during the pandemic. Stephen tWitch Boss, a longtime guest DJ on the show and among those who have publicly supported DeGeneres, will guest host some fall episodes. Last month, three of the show's producers exited amid allegations of a dysfunctional workplace that harbored misbehavior including sexual misconduct and racially insensitive remarks.
5 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:1. BIDEN, TRUMP RUN VASTLY DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS The Democratic challenger is emphasizing guidelines supported by local health officials during the pandemic while the president is railing against restrictions that he argues are politically motivated. WINDS POSE WILDFIRE THREATS IN CALIFORNIA Wildfires rage unchecked throughout the state, and gusty Diablo and Santa Ana winds could drive flames into new ferocity, authorities warn. HEALTHCARE WORKERS HIT HARD IN INDONESIA The tribulations are similar to other medical professionals globally: long shifts, hospitals filled to capacity and a lack of resources like personal protective equipment. ELLEN DEGENERES SAYS SHELL BE READY TO TALK The popular daytime talk show host returns this month after a staff shake-up prompted by allegations of a toxic workplace.
WATCH: Former Barbers Hill student, who was told he had to cut his dreadlocks, gifted $20,000 from Alicia Keys on Ellen show
MONT BELVIEU, Texas – Alicia Keys surprised a Houston-area student with $20,000 for “standing up for what is right” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “I want to tell you that I couldn’t believe the story when I heard it,” Keys said on the show. “I’m super proud of you for standing up for what you know is right. Arnold, who has since withdrawn from the Barbers Hill, said he was given two options: in-school suspension or alternative school. They deserve to see me walk across the stage.”DeGeneres and Keys hope the school changes their mind.
Chrissy Teigen honored at Baby2Baby gala
Kate Hudson arrives at the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Culver City, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)CULVER CITY, CA – Chrissy Teigen said she felt honored to receive an award at the Baby2Baby Gala, but her acceptance speech wasn't all about her achievement: "No kid should go hungry. "I feel honored to be honored," Teigen said. Legend praised Teigen for being an advocate for children through Baby2Baby. The nonprofit organization looks for high-profile celebs to highlight their mission of helping provide basic necessities to children living in poverty. Teigen said she and Legend have tried to instill the importance of giving to the less fortunate in their young children, Luna and Miles.